2006-07-08 19:13:01 · 19 answers · asked by sleeplessinslo 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Because thats how many morons there are in this country.
It may be the land of the free, but you can't take my Cheetoes.
2006-07-08 19:16:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Crime is big business: with more than 200 billion dollars spent a year for police, prisons and courts. A criminal justice system that employs over 3 million people.
With federal district court judges earning salaries of $145,000 and criminal lawyers starting out earning between about $30,000 and $80,000 a year.
This is all so American political leaders can appear tough on crime ... as it gets them elected and reelected.
Yet, they and other experts know that
Community Corrections and other rehabilitation programs have a lower total cost per offender and are more effective at reducing crime and lowering the rates of recidivism.
So your answer to why is the useal money and power.
2006-07-09 02:48:26 · answer #2 · answered by rcabrave 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Land of the free doesn't mean free to commit crime without punushment. It does, however mean that individuals have sufficient freedom to commit a wide range of crimes. When caught, however, they must be punished.
I did not verify your number but I do remember a statistic from 2004 stating that 6.9M adults were in jail, on probation or parole. Given the great opportunity of the US I think it is disappointing, yes, but lower than I expected.
2006-07-09 02:33:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does that figure include short term incarcerations? How many folks are sleeping off a DUI? How many are waiting to appear in court?
I understand many are in prison for non violent offenses. What would be the number of people in prison for non violent offenses vs violent offenders? You would have to seperate the stats to get a better picture.
2006-07-09 02:16:38 · answer #4 · answered by bigtony615 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's not the land of the free to the people who decide to disobey the law. for sure otherwise, it wouldn't be the land of the free for the people who believe in living safely and therefore freely on it.
2006-07-09 02:41:47 · answer #5 · answered by gurrrly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because this country is full of hypocrites, racists, general a$$holes, thieves, liars and etc. And I"m not talking about those locked up. And the court system is messed up too.
Those inmates that acutally committed a crime should be locked up. But, I highly doubt some of them committed whatever crime they were accused of.
2006-07-09 02:17:11 · answer #6 · answered by cafegrrrl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This would concern me if they were political prisoners. But since they are people who have commited violent crimes, frauds and thefts I have no trouble with it. That is where they belong - that and probably about 1 million more of them.
2006-07-09 02:19:27 · answer #7 · answered by netjr 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because those folks were free to decide to break the law and are now facing the consequences.
2006-07-09 02:17:17 · answer #8 · answered by Sara 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because with freedom comes responsibility, and a lot of people are irresponsible. Freedom does not mean "free." Freedom is earned.
2006-07-09 02:18:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do wonder about this too ... and the fact that the U.S. still has the highest percentage of violent crimes. This proves that this tough, zero-tolerance is not necessarily the best deterrant.
2006-07-09 02:58:23 · answer #10 · answered by Angela B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋